ewalk a half a block away. Jerry too was waiting for instructions
and ready, once he had received them, to lead his own force out, with
that light in his eye that had dwelt there when he first saw Alexander.

Halloway rose, yawned, and stretched himself. As he did so his hands
almost brushed the ceiling.

"I reckon," he asserted, "I won't tarry no longer. Mebby I'll come
back again." But before he had reached the threshold the operator and
his companion stood looking on from the baggage room door. Even
unlettered Machiavellis must have their flashes of inspiration,
premonition, "hunch," or whatever you may choose to call it. Suddenly,
into the telegrapher's consciousness flashed the suspicion that in the
departure of this unknown observer lurked some hidden menace. In what
that danger lay he was all at sea but it was a thing he felt and upon
which he acted. The knight of the ticker jerked his head and raised a
hand, and before Halloway's own arms had descended from the heights to
which his yawn had stretched them, he found two pistols squarely
presented to his broad chest, and heard a voice instruct with
unmistakable finality, "Keep them hands up!"

Keeping them up, Halloway could still see across the shoulders of his
captors the distant figure of Jerry O'Keefe but with him he could not
communicate.

As he stood, rapidly thinking, it occurred to him that his strength and
agility might perhaps even yet avail him. With a lunge he might carry
down the two armed figures and escape, but before undertaking that he
turned his head for a backward glance and decided against the
experiment. Besides the Station Agent stood the third fellow, also
with a drawn and leveled weapon.

The Operator spoke again somewhat nervously. He had acted so
strenuously on pure impulse and not without a certain misgiving. Now
he felt the need of some explanation.

"Boys, when that instrument ticked a while back," he mendaciously
asserted, "hit was ther town marshal at Coal City talkin'. He
described this man an' said he was wanted thar fer settin' ther hotel
on fire day before yesterday. We hain't got no choice but ter hold
him."

Going to the drawer of his desk the speaker produced a pair of
handcuffs and rattled them as he explained, "Ther revenue man left
these hyar. Put 'em on him, Joe."

With the two pistols still pressed close Halloway slowly lowered his
wrists and submitted to the indignity of their shackling. Had any